Susanna's Kitchen at First Congregational Church

Our mission is to provide a hot meal to persons who walk through our doors without reference to ability, age, gender, race or religious belief.​ The idea for Susanna's KItchen came from a "think group" at Grace United Methodist Church in February 1982. Volunteers for kitchen help came from each United Methodist church in the Elkhart area. A start-up date was set for July 7, 1982 with soup and bread being the first menu items. There is no charge for the food. Susanna's Kitchen moved to First Congregational Church of the United Church of Christ about 2005 in order to continue this important ministry when its location at Grace Pentecostal Church could no longer provide space. Each week day, Susanna's Kitchen provides a hot luncheon for 60 to 100 individuals. Today, over twenty local churches of various denominations provide volunteers to staff the kitchen.